Forgetfulone's Pages

Thursday, December 26, 2013

I will definitely remember this Christmas. It is the last one before my twins graduate and start college next year. I also got a wonderful gift! My daughter made a collage with pictures of her and her brother and put it in a big frame. I can't wait to hang it up!

After we opened presents at home, we went to my in-law's for our annual breakfast prepared and served by my father-in-law and brother-in-law. It was delicious! And then there were a few presents and we headed home.

My sister, brother-in-law, and nephew came over. My mom was supposed to, but she is sick. That is the only sad part about my day. I can't remember a Christmas where I didn't get to see my mom... ever... until today. Thankfully, everyone else was well.

After we opened presents, we had a big lunch. The menu that I posted yesterday was a little different than what we actually had. The grocery store had no asparagus! And my husband decided we didn't need both rice and potato salad. We had buttercream pecans and ripe olives as appetizers. Our main meal consisted of Caesar salad, marinated pork tenderloin, garlic mashed potatoes, roasted carrots, cauliflower in a butter and thyme sauce, green bean casserole, rolls, and butter. My sister brought some spinach-artichoke dip, chicken and rice casserole, and baked mashed potatoes. For dessert, we had a chocolate Bundt cake (from my sister), chocolate chip cookies, and Oreo-cream cheese cake balls that my daughter and I made. Oh, it was so good! And we have lots of left-overs

After dinner, we visited for a while, then we played a game of Cards Against Humanity. I laughed so hard I almost cried! To top it all off, I set up my new phone and watched the Rockets beat the Spurs! What a fabulous day! I hope you and your loved ones had a very merry Christmas!

Monday, December 02, 2013

With only 23 sleeps left until Christmas, it's time to really buckle down and get some shopping done! I love to shop for my family and friends! This year, though, I work in retail (second job), so it was my first time ever to work on the other side of the register on Black Friday. The last time I shopped on Black Friday was 2009 and before that was 2007. It was quite a switch to be working, though.

I have to say... people were really nice where I work. It is an upscale department store, not the kind of place where you go to get really good bargains, necessarily, although we had a few sales. I work in the home department with all the china, bedding, crystal, small appliances, table linens, and tons of Christmas things... everything from beautifully decorated trees to ornaments, Christmas dishes, figurines, snow globes, gourmet candy, Waterford, Swarovski, Lenox, stockings, tree skirts, and so on. I will be leaving soon, though, because I no longer need the second income. I have enjoyed it, though.

I heard about crowds, fights, people using tasers, and all kinds of chaos again this year, so I think I will stay home from now on, or wait until the afternoon. I also think it's sad that some stores are opening on Thanksgiving - not even waiting until Friday.

But I love buying gifts. I love Cyber-Monday, too. I really have to start making it look a little more like Christmas around here! I've got some Christmas crafts to work on, Christmas cards, too. I love it!
Did you brave the crowds this year?